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Symbyax is a prescription medication to treat adults who have depression with bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. Eli Lilly and Company manufactures Symbyax, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FD) approved the medication in 2003.

Symbyax consists of two drugs: olanzapine and fluoxetine. Olanzapine is an "atypical" antipsychotic medicine, meaning it's used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia such as hearing voices, seeing things that aren't there, mistaken beliefs, etc. Other atypical antipsychotic medications you can read about in the FindLaw Dangerous Drugs section include Zyprexa and Risperdal. Fluoxetine is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia, and panic disorders. To learn more, read the Symbyax FAQs.

Symbyax and Serotonin Syndrome

The FDA issued an alert to doctors and the public in July 2006 informing them that a life-threatening condition can occur when Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and migraine medications known as 5-hydroxytrypatmine receptor agonists (triptans) are taken together. This condition is called "serotonin syndrome." Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

Restlessness

Hallucinations

Loss of coordination

Fast heartbeat

Increased body temperature

Fast changes in blood pressure

Overactive reflexes

Diarrhea

Coma

Nausea

Vomiting

Serotonin syndrome may be more likely to occur when starting or increasing the dose of an SSRI or a triptan. If you take migraine headache medicines, ask your doctor if your medicine is a triptan.

Antidepressants and Pregnant Women

In July 2006, the FDA issued a separate alert announcing the results of a study looking at the use of antidepressant medicines during pregnancy by moms of babies born with a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Babies born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs, and don’t get enough oxygen to their bodies. Babies born with PPHN can be very sick and may die.

Results from the study also showed that babies born to mothers who took SSRIs 20 weeks or later into their pregnancies had a higher chance (were 6 times as likely) to have PPHN, when compared to babies born to mothers who didn’t take antidepressants during pregnancy. For more information, see the Antidepressants and Pregnancy article. Talk to your doctor if you are taking Symbyax and are pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. You and your doctor can decide the best way to treat your depression during pregnancy.

Symbyax and the Increased Risk of Suicidality

In October 2004, the FDA issued a public health advisory directing all antidepressant drug manufacturers to revise their product labeling to include boxed warning and expanded warning statements that alert healthcare providers to an increased risk of suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) in children and adolescents being treated with these medications. Eli Lilly and Company, the maker of Symbyax, has since added these warnings to Symbyax's prescribing information in response to the FDA advisory.

In June 2005, the FDA issued a public health advisory announcing that several recent scientific publications suggested the possibility of an increased risk for suicidal behavior in adults being treated with antidepressant medications, such as Symbyax. The FDA highlighted that adults taking antidepressants should be watched closely for worsening depression and increased suicidality. Monitoring these patients is especially important when treatment begins and when doses are increased or decreased. The FDA has worked closely with antidepressant manufacturers to fully evaluate the risk of suicidality in adults treated with these medications.

Talk to an Attorney Before Filing a Symbyax Claim

Injuries related to Symbyax can be very serious, especially those related to increased suicidality and birth injuries to infants whose mothers were taking the drug. If you or a loved one have experienced any harm from taking Symbyax, you should first contact your doctor. Then, in order to seek compensation for your injuries, you should consider meeting with a product liability attorney.

Next Steps

Contact a qualified product liability attorney to make sure your rights are protected.